Every year flocks of dubious freshmen shuffle towards the Covered Courts, schedules tightly clinched to attend their first arnis class. Overcome by the Manila heat, minutes pass slowly, as, anxiously they wait for the mystery that is arnis, to be uncovered.
Eventually, they are demystified at the hands of professor, arnis maestro and coach, Richardson Gialogo. Just a meter away from the nearest student, Coach Gialogo gracefully showcases numerous strikes at lightning speed, not with a baston (an arnis stick), but with a full-sized machete.
His mastery of arnis is unquestionable, and is only further emphasized by his distinguished accomplishments. Coach Gialogo has literally won every title there is for an arnis fighter, having been crowned Lightweight Champion, Half Middleweight Champion, Middleweight Champion, Heavyweight Champion and Open Weight Champion of the Philippines, Best Coach, Most Artistic Player and, was even a finalist in the Moro Lorenzo Sportsman of the Year Award.
Ingrained Jesuit values
Coach Gialogo’s passion for arnis is rooted in his 16 years of Atenean education, from grade school to college; time spent being holistically saturated in Jesuit values, which he says has majorly contributed to his success in arnis.
Throughout high school Coach Gialogo was already a martial arts aficionado, studying Japanese and Korean arts. Yet, it was not until he read Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere, during high school, did his nationalism truly develop.
“I thought to myself, why study foreign arts when there is an indigenous martial art, which is a complete and highly effective system,” he says.
“Noli Me Tangere”
Inspired by Elias, of Noli Me Tangere, who fights against the oppression of Filipinos at the hands of the Spaniards, Coach Gialogo is fighting to preserve Filipino culture through arnis.
His undying passion for arnis has extended to the Senate, where he was instrumental in the making of Republic Act 9850. The law, passed on December 11, 2009, declares arnis as the Philippines’ national martial art and national sport.
“I love arnis because it is Filipino,” Coach Gialago plainly states.
Guro
As a coach, he gives as much personal care to his athletes as possible, a method called cura personalis, a Jesuit fundamental Coach Gialogo utilizes and practices. He also emphasizes the importance of excelling in academics.
“Mens sana in corpore sano: A sound mind in a sound body, “Coach Gialogo sites.
Yet, Coach Gialogo’s greatest contribution is purely his time and commitment. Initially starting as an arnis club in 1995, and evolving into a competitive team, Coach Gialogo has been present every step of the way.
“Despite having responsibilities with numerous arnis organizations, the national team, and as a PE teacher in Ateneo, [coach Gialogo] still has some time for the team,” Jerzey Pangilinan, Ateneo arnis team captain, shares about Coach Gialogo.
Coach Gialogo’s Ateneo Arnis Team has won 30 different championships within the last 11 years, at an inter-collegiate, regional and national level – namely the Philippine Olympic Festival, a multi-sport event sanctioned by the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Arnis in the 21st Century
While arnis is deeply entrenched in Filipino culture, it has, sadly, lost its prominence. Coach Gialogo attributes this downfall to the mismanagement of arnis and the lack of an influential figure.
Due to the lack of promotion by arnis organizations, arnis has become a mere second choice to the likes of Taekwondo, Judo, Boxing and Jujitsu. This is apparent in Ateneo where Judo, Taekwondo and Fencing have been included in the UAAP agenda.
“Sadly, politics is starting to creep into the sport. If there would be a good leader for arnis, then, the future would look bright,” the coach says of the future of arnis.
Renaissance
Coach Gialogo is taking a stand. He is currently designing The Department of Education’s arnis curriculum, which will be required to be taught in every public high school in the Philippines, according to RA 9850.
Coach Gialogo’s future plans to rejuvenate arnis in the Philippines, also include running for a position on the Philippine Sports Commission, in hopes of steering the management of arnis back on track.
Through his determination Coach Gialogo, like Jose Rizal, has the undying passion to reignite nationalism. But while Rizal’s legacy is his scripture, Coach Gialogo will do it through striking his baston.
